Relax...It's Bibllical

As we wrap up another great session of Life Groups I am reminded how important it is to the health of our lives and ministry to REST & RELAX with the Lord and our loved ones.  I've combined a blog from Rick Warren about the importance of rest and relaxation with a sabbath "How To" which came out of a sermon that I preached a few years ago. My hope is that you are able to rest in the goodness of God as we close out the Spring and head into the Summer.

 ENJOY...

Rest and relaxation are so important that God put them in the Ten Commandments. God tells us to rest every seventh day. If you’re not taking a day off every week, you’re breaking one of the Ten Commandments – and you won’t be as effective as you could be in ministry (or anything else you do).

Jesus reminds us in Mark 2:27 that the command to take a Sabbath is for our own benefit: “Man was not given for the Sabbath but the Sabbath was given for man.” God gave us the Sabbath to help us to rest and restore. Our bodies need it.Jesus modeled this in His own ministry, and we need to model it in our ministries.

Relaxation: We need to take time to enjoy life.

Mark 6:31-32 says, “Because so many people were coming and going that they didn’t even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, `Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (NIV). In other words, Jesus said, “Fellows, you deserve a break today. Come to the desert and we’re going to rest.”

Jesus modeled this God-created need to rest and relax. I’m more and more convinced of the importance of balance in ministry. All areas of our lives need to be balanced. There is an ebb and flow in ministry, a time when you give out and a time when you receive, a time when you work and a time when you rest. Ecclesiastes says, “There’s a time for everything in life” – to laugh, to cry, to build up, and to tear down.

The Bible says in Matthew 11:19 that Jesus came enjoying life . You don’t hear many theologians talking about that verse. They talk about Jesus the old sourpuss. Have you noticed on TV that the media always shows Jesus with a sour, dour, very serious face? But the Bible says, Jesus came enjoying life. He survived stress by enjoying life.

God wants you to do that. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17, “God richly gives us everything to enjoy” (NCV). As we use it for His glory, we also get to enjoy it at the same time.

Balance is a key to stress management. I constantly remind my staff to --

* Divert daily – Take a mini-vacation every day to recharge.

* Withdraw weekly – Take a day off every week.
* Abandon annually – Take an extended period of time off every year.
Jesus rested regularly because he knew God designed us to need rest, but also because he was being obedient to the commands of God.

One great way to "Withdraw Weekly" and rest in the presence of God is by taking a sabbath.  Here are some practical elements to add into a sabbath day that will ensure that it is more than merely a day off.  Maria and I have been working to take a sabbath for the past year and a half, and it has become a wonderful part of our weekly rhythm. If you have more questions about taking a sabbath feel free to contact me and I'd be happy to talk.

SABBATH "HOW TO"

5 Distinctives To Include In Your Sabbath Experience

1) Celebrating God:

> Focus on the gifts that God has given you, not on the things that you don’t have. No focusing on the negative things in life on sabbath.

> Spend time reading the Bible, praying, and talking with your kids about the amazing love of God.

> Get out into nature or some place where you generally connect with God (i.e. the beach, mountains, etc.).

2)   Celebrating Family:

> Sabbath is a time for blessing your family. Spend time telling each person in your family what they mean to you and how much you love them. This may feel a bit foreign at first if you don't make this a regular practice. But it will transform your family dynamic.

> If you’re married, this is a day to be "intimate" with your spouse as a celebration of God’s gift of marriage.

3)  Celebrating Fun:

> Do something fun with your family. Imagine having kids who can’t wait to spend time with God because it’s so much fun! Do something that your kids and spouse love doing on the sabbath and tell them that you are doing this because it is part of God's design for your family (i.e. tie it into God, so that your kids associate God with incredible times with the family).

4)  Celebrating Service:

> The one group of people in the Bible who were not commanded to stop working on the sabbath were the people who served in the church. 

> Look for ways to serve in the church & community as part of Sabbath.  We don’t take sabbath from serving God. We take Sabbath by serving God.

5)   Celebrating Food:

> Sabbath is a time to have an amazing meal with those closest to you. 

      NOTE: If you're in need of rest, and are looking to take your relationship with God to a whole new level...Try taking a sabbath with your family (or close friends) this week. It will mean being intentional to get the errands, housework, and yard work done before the sabbath day, but if you do it, you will be amazed at how God meets and refreshes you during your sabbath.

THE 1 THING

A few weeks ago in a sermon I asked you to listen for the 1 THING that God wanted to say to you. I did that because I realize that whenever I preach there a lot of "good things" said, but chances are you won't remember a lot of good things. My hope was that if you listened for the 1 thing, it would stick, and God would use it in your life.

The same is true for our Life Groups. Over the course of a session there are a lot of good things said. But my hope is that you (and each person in your group) will leave with more than a general sense that it was a "good group". I want you to end with at least 1 THING that God really spoke to you.

WHAT IS YOUR 1 THING?

You're 1 THING could have to do with:

• You're leadership: Maybe there is an area of leadership that you really grew in, or that you want to grow in next round.
• Your personal journey with God: A way that He challenged, encouraged, or grew you.
• A sin to be dealt with: Did God bring up an area of sin that He's calling you to eradicate in your life.
• A new horizon: Maybe God brought up some new area (job, family, ministry) that He wants you to develop.

Spend 15 minutes today thinking through your 1 THING, because understanding the 1 THING will help make this experience a powerful life changing one for you.

WHAT IS THEIR 1 THING?

After you've done this individually, take your group through the process in one of your last weeks. It will cement the 1 THING in their lives and will open the door for God to continue to work long after the group ends.

 

Life Groups In A Box

Leading a Life Group Just Got Simpler!

ARE YOU EXCITED TO LEAD A GROUP, BUT DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO LEAD? Why not lead a Life Group In A Box? We’ve put everything in a box that you need to lead a Life Group, including: your curriculum and discussion guide, reading plan, group calendar, Life Group Agreement, name tags, ice-breaker suggestions, and communion cups.  All you need to do add is people! To find out how to sign up to lead a Life Group in a Box in Summer 2012, read on...

Curriculum Available with "LG in a Box” for Summer 2012!

(To check out one of these resources for the Summer LG Session, you need to email Kevin Finkbiner (Kevin@newlifepetaluma.org)  no later than Monday April 16.


The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
In this remarkable best-seller, Rick Warren will help you understand God’s purpose and plan for your life so that you can learn to live the life for which you were created. The book is divided into forty short chapters, very easy to read and yet will profoundly impact your life.
This is a life-transforming book which is great for new believers and those who have been walking with God for years.
Look inside the book with Amazon.com.



S.H.A.P.E. by Erik Rees
This study helps you pursue God’s unique purpose for your life based on the way God has shaped you. He made you unique for a reason; tap into that reason, and into the secrets of your own deeply personal makeup, and you’ll discover the path to a life of unimagined purpose, impact, and fulfillment.  Illustrated with real-life stories, this inspiring and deeply insightful book guides you through a series of challenges that will help you uncover your God-given S.H.A.P.E.:

• Spiritual Gifts – A set of special abilities that God has give to you to share his love and serve others.
• Heart – The special passions God has given you so that you can glorify him on earth.
• Abilities – The set of talents that God gave you when you were born, which he also wants you to use to make an impact for him.
• Personality – The special way God wired you to navigate life and fulfill your unique Kingdom Purpose.
• Experiences – Those parts of your past, both positive and painful, which God intends to use in great ways.

This book will help you discover your unique “S.H.A.P.E.,” explore it, then apply it in ways that will bring confidence, freedom, clarity, and significance.  The study includes a 6 DVD “shorts” to watch in your group, as well as discussion questions at the end of each chapter to help guide conversation in your group.

How To Really Parent Your Child: Anticipating what a child needs, instead of reacting to what a child does. by Ross Campbell

 By anticipating the needs of a child rather than reacting to his or her behaviors, parents develop a relational rather than adversarial family structure. Mothers and fathers will find tools aimed to help them build a healthy relationship with their child that meets all four basic emotional needs: to be nurtured in unconditional love, to be lovingly disciplined, to be trained in anger management, and to be protected from harmful influences. It is after these basic needs are met that a child will be able to understand and respond to spiritual matters. Combining practical advice with anecdotal examples, Campbell offers a purposeful, life-long approach to building happy, healthy, spiritual children. Look inside the book with Amazon.com



The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Marriage should be based on love, right? But does it seem as though you and your spouse are speaking two different languages? Dr. Gary Chapman guides couples in identifying, understanding, and speaking their spouse’s primary love language—quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch.  By learning the five love languages, you and your spouse will discover your unique love languages and learn practical steps in truly loving each other.   Look inside the book with Amazon.com.

 ______________________________________________________________

How Can I Sign Up To Lead a LG in a Box?

If you would like to lead one of our Life Group in a Box curricula, email Kevin Finkbiner (kevin@newlifepetaluma.org) no later than April 16. In this email indicate which group you would like to lead. You will then "check out" your Life Group in a box (free of charge) two weeks before your group begins.
IMPORTANT NOTE: New Life will only be doing a certain number of each of these studies during a given session, so the curriculum is on a first come first serve basis.

Looking For Something Else? 

Check out tons of great Life Group curriculum by clicking on this Curriculum Guide – Produced by North Point Church..

We Need To Pray Just To Make It Today

In the words of one of my favorite early 90's rappers MC Hammer, "We need to pray just to make it today." Prayer is a powerful way to encounter God and give space for the Holy Spirit to work in people's lives.  Deep down we know that having a culture of prayer in our Life Groups is a determining factor of God's transforming work in group member's lives.  But we've probably all had group times that group fills up with so many other great things that the we end before we've had time to pray together. Or (if you're like me), we realize that the group is ending so we rush trough prayer requests with promises to pray for people throughout the week. Let's talk for a few minutes about some reasons to pray, and some tips for guiding the prayer request time.

WHY PRAY?

•  Prayer brings the issues before God and opens the door for Him to work in our lives.
• Prayer let's the Life Group members know what is going on in each others life and gives a chance share the load.
• Prayer gives the opportunity for vulnerability which draws the group closer to God and to each other.

3 Tips For Guiding Prayer Requests In Your Group... 

 When you enter into prayer time in your Life Group I would suggest trying this model for gathering the prayer requests:

• PRAISE: 

 We often come to God with a laundry list of requests. This has at least two unwanted effects

1.  We begin to view God as a vending machine (we put in our requests and He spits out an answer).
2. When we're constantly asking for more we forget about the prayers that He has answered and we begin to wonder if He's really working.

Starting with praises reminds the group of God's continued work in our midst and encourages us to give God the praise that He deserves.

•  PROBLEM (i.e. prayer request): 

Once the group is encouraged by the work that God is doing in their lives (because of the praises shared), try moving into requests. Ask people if there are things going on in their lives where they need God's help, His guidance, or His miraculous touch in their lives.

• PRAY: 

I'm not saying that you have to prayer for each group member every week (in some groups that I lead we prayer for each member each week, in other groups we prayer for certain people based on their prayer requests). What I am suggesting is that regular time of prayer is essential for the spiritual growth that God wants to bring to the members of your Life Group. 


How can you incorporate prayer into your group's DNA this week?

To watch the MC Hammer "PRAY" music video click here. WARNING: video may cause increased desire to pray, and a strong longing to wear parachute pants and tank tops!